February Newsletter

Alpine Race team Competes in New York Special Olympics

The STRIDE Special Olympics Ski Team competed in their first regional competition on January 30th at West Mountain in Queensbury, NY. With 5 skiers on the team and four coaches. The team had an excellent performance by all athletes and the team brought back 9 medals!. The STRIDE team did outstanding and we are excited that four of our team members will be competing in the State Games at Holiday Mountain in Poughkeepsie, NY on February 19-21st. More than 1,000 athletes and coaches from across the state will participate in the 2016 State Winter Games, featuring competitions in Alpine , Cross- Country Skiing, Figure Skating, Floor Hockey and Snowshoe. The State Winter Games are one of three annual state games and one of more than 4,000 total competitive experiences held each year throughout New York.

STRIDE Bowling Team Rocks!

The STRIDE Bowling Team will be competing in a doubles competition on March 13th at Sportsman’s Bowl in Schenectady, NY, the first doubles tournament our athletes have ever participated in. STRIDE will have 4 teams of 2 bowlers each, competing against teams from across the Capital Region. Special Olympics continues to provide our athletes with many exciting new opportunities and experiences helping athletes grow on the playing field and as individuals !

Join STRIDE at our winter ‘ Ball’ Teen Dance

A perennial favorite, STRIDE Teen dances are offered Spring and Fall; is a first winter Snow Ball dance for our teen participants and their guests! The event will be held at South Colonie Central High School on Friday, February 26th from 6pm-9pm, co-sponsored by South Colonie’s ICARE group. Colonie Central High School iCARE began as an initiative where both faculty and students have a common forum to express and affect change in our school community; a character building program with a goal to understand and enact the ideologies of: Integrity, Community, Accountability, Respect, and Empathy. We look forward to this event!

Inaugural 100k Vertical Challenge

This Leap Day Monday February 29 marks the first 100k Vertical Challenge event where Skiers/snowboarders will test their skiing/riding endurance with 87 runs off the top of the mountain. This 12-plus-hour adventure aims to raise funds for and awareness of STRIDE's adaptive sports programs for youth with disabilities and Wounded Warriors. Participants can do this event alone or form a relay team of 2-4 people. We'll be there to support you all day!

When: Leap Day 2016 - Monday, February 29th, starting at 8am

Where: Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, 37 Corey Road, Hancock, MA 01237

Registration Cost: $50/person Fundraising Commitment: $500 for individuals; $1,000 for teams

11th Annual Wounded Warrior Snowfest

STRIDE is excited to be hosting its 11th year serving Wounded Warriors, celebrated during our annual Wounded Warrior Snowfest! Held March 3-6, 2016, STRIDE is excited to welcome 15 Wounded Warrior participants along with select returning Wounded Warrior mentors for a weekend of therapeutic snowsports at Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort. The weekend will begin with a Welcome Ceremony and banquet dinner on Friday evening, March 4th, at the Troy Hilton Garden Inn which invites the public to come and thank a veteran for their service to our country made possible through STRIDE’s therapeutic Wounded Warrior programs. Please join us! Dinner tickets are just $40, reserve now at www.stride.org

2016 Great Race

STRIDE’s Annual Great Race, Diana Golden Mills Cup Level I Adaptive Race is a competitive event for nearly 100 disabled ski racers from across the Northeast. This year's Great Race will be held on Saturday, March 19, 2016. An inspiring day of individual victories and monumental successes realized on the race course at Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort in Hancock, MA, the event is open to all adaptive skiers of any age, skill level, or disability. The event is designed to introduce adaptive skiers to the thrill and excitement of racing in a safe, and essentially low- competitive format. Each racer is timed during both runs through a giant slalom course set on beginner terrain and special awards are given to the top three finishers in each category. Divisions are open to Visually Impaired, Blind, 2-Track, 3-Track, 4-Track, Bi-ski, Mono Skiers and Snowboarders with special needs, and the course is set up to accommodate different skill levels. Racer Entrance Fee is $60 which includes ski pass, coaches, rental and adaptive equipment, two runs on the race-course, outdoor barbeque, music, and an Awards Ceremony.

Winter Programs are underway! :

Air Rifle Target Shooting Program: When: Sunday’s at 1:30pm Where: RPI Mueller Center Program Director: Chuck Meyer

Bowling (Special Olympics Team also!) When: Beginning Saturday, January 30th Where: Sparetime in Latham at 10am Program Director: Diane Grugan Greenbush Bowling Center at 10:30am Program Director: Gina Howard

Dance When: Beginning Saturday, January 9th Where: Isabelle School of Dance at 4:15pm Program Director: Katie Almon

Indoor Tennis When: In session now on Sundays at 2pm Where: SPORTIME in Schenectady Program Director: Dave Graham

Skiing/ Lessons (Special Olympics Team also!) When: Saturdays and Sundays 9am or 1pm Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday Nights Where: Jiminy Peak Program Director: Mary Ellen Whitney

Sled Hockey When: Saturdays at 1:30pm Where: The Albany Academies Fieldhouse Coach: Chris Mancuso

Snowshoeing/Winter Hikes Five Rivers Education Center – Saturday Feb. 13th Albany Pine Bush Preserve – Saturday Feb. 20th Program Director: Melissa Lachanski

Swimming (Special Olympics Team also!) When: Sundays at 10am for advanced and 11am for beginners Where: East Greenbbush YMCA Program Director: Winn Huntley

Please contact Program Manager, Melissa Lachanski if you are interested! Phone: 518-598-1279 Email: [email protected]

Caption; Stand tennis players showing their Team spirit

STRIDE Shooting Demo Day!

Shooting Demo Day on Sunday 1/31 was a great success, with the largest group of youth and veterans integrated. All new participants that tried the sport said they would be back! We are grateful for our Program Director Chuck Meyer, and marksman who does a tremendous job with this program at the Mueller Center at RPI. Sign up now

Caption: Veterans assist youth with disabilities take aim! Volunteer Profile:

Mary Tabatneck

Mary is a standout volunteer with STRIDE at our swimming and bowling programs. Mary is a senior who is majoring in Biology and Psychology as a minor at Siena College. Next semester she will be matriculating to Albany Medical College, where she hopes to pursue pediatric surgery. In Mary’s free time she loves to be active outdoors! She likes hiking, swimming, and golfing. She also loves the occasional Disney movie marathon.

She has recently had the opportunity to participate in a few volunteer experiences abroad. She spent 6 weeks this past summer in La Calera, Chile on a medical service trip. She is planning on going to Managua, Nicaragua over spring break on a service trip. Additionally, she is involved in an Autism Awareness club called Inspire at Siena, and she loves being a volunteer for STRIDE! Mary is a caring and passionate individual who makes a difference in our programs! Thank you Mary!

Athlete Profile

Noah is a 15-year-old avid skier who lives in Brooklyn, NY. He began skiing with Stride in 2005 and has spent the last two years training with the Stride Race Team. In the early days, instructors had to carry Noah from the lodge to the trail because Noah didn't want to walk in his ski boots! They would work hard to get in a few runs on Cricket before a hot chocolate reward. Now, Noah skis the entire day and is sometimes the last one back from his lesson! When Noah is not skiing, he enjoys tennis, listening to music, and playing the drums. He and his siblings, Jake and Talia, have formed a band called the Beagle Dogs. Noah won two gold medals at the Winter Regional Games for Special Olympics in January. Noah is a very determined individual and we are excited to see what his future holds! He is looking forward to participating in the State Games coming up in February!

STRIDE Cares

Congratulations to Layth Haddad on passing his Adaptive Level II certification

Congratulations to Warrior Pedro Rosado on his engagement to Maggie Congratulations to Board member Amy Earing on her new home!

Deepest sympathies to Volunteer Paul Kirwin on the loss of his brother, Paul.

Congratulations to Volunteer Ryan Walsh on his engagement to Ada!

Get Well wishes to Ski sundown instruct tor Scott Roderick

Deepest sympathies to Board member Tom gilbert on the passing of his father , Bill.